in support of my claim, eh? But of course"
Dunkle's face darkened. "You needn't be afraid," he said stiffly. "I shan't let you down."
"My dear fellow," cried the Archdeacon, "you don't imagine I spoke seriously, I hope? If so, pray disabuse your mind of any such monstrous notion. I haven't the slightest doubt that you will keep faith with me. For let me tell you, Bisham that before giving you that manuscript to copy out, I made a copy of it in my own handwriting, and placed it in the Sloane Street Safe Deposit, sealed and dated and entered in the books of that institution. I have, therefore, irrefragable proof of my authorship of, at any rate, 'Edgar and Lilian,' and, since I can explode your claim to have written my second book, I do not believe that you will think
